Surgical Suffixes Medical Terminology

Vocabulary flashcards defining common surgical suffixes and quick reference medical terminology notes.

-centesis

Puncture to withdraw fluid

-clasis

Intentional breaking or fracture

-desis

Binding or fusion

-ectomy

Removal or excision

-lysis

Release or separation

-otomy / -tomy

Incision or cutting into

-ostomy / -stomy

Creating an opening

-pexy

Fixation or suspension

-plasty

Repair or reconstruction

-rrhaphy

Suturing

-tripsy

Crushing

-cleisis

Closure; for example, surgical closure of an opening

Combining Vowel ('o')

The preceding 'o' in medical terminology that is generally not part of the suffix

Coding Memory Tip for Surgical Suffixes

Learn the suffix first because it often reveals what the procedure did